We spoke with Chisora and his team who clearly didn't want the fight so we moved on very quickly.

"We spoke with Chisora and his team who clearly didn't want the fight so we moved on very quickly - we can't afford to get slowed in getting things down and will announce AJ's next opponent at the end of this week."

Kubrat Pulev is the man standing between Chisora and the European title

Chisora's promoter, Kalle Sauerland, added: "I don't think anyone was ducking anyone. It's professional boxing and it was down to money. Dereck wasn't happy with the terms presented to him and said he wasn't going to do it.

"It could have gone to a purse bid but I guess Eddie and Anthony chose to go a different avenue because we couldn't reach an agreement. They chose to move on and at the end of the day, Dereck has his demands. Anthony gave up the position and Pulev moves in."